No.5, .22 Lee Enfield

There is a thread on another forum here regarding the single shot platform for the no.5 .22 rifle. I have only seen one other, but assume there are several in both the Pattern Room and Warminster. Here are some photo's albeit not the best, but I will try and tart them up later.
The No.5 rifle (only 105 made) had two magazine configurations. The normal one seemed to be the 5 round insert ala the No.7 Mk.1 rifle. However, there was a single shot platform and here is a picture of one.
Attachment 28137Attachment 28138Attachment 28139Attachment 28140

Apparent'y the spring loaded platforms are very rare now...... They were an issue item 'as required' to units who took part in civilian leage shoots where magazine loading/feed facility wasn't allowed. Just taking the magazine out wasn't on because it made single shot hand feed quite difficult. I suspect that this is why the No8 had a separate loading tray, so as to make hand loading and feed easy. Incidentally, while the feed platform and 2x retaining pins were shown in the No8 parts list, they were never available as component parts and were non interchangeable between rifles either. Mix up a whole batch of rifles and feed/loading platforms and you were in stuck! You stayed at your bench until you matched them all up!

Anyone else got a single load platform for a No5 or 7?

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Originally Posted by Warren

The normal one seemed to be the 5 round insert ala the No.7 Mk.1 rifle. However, there was a single shot platform and here is a picture of one.

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Is this the same single shot platform mag that was issued with the No7 rifle???

It COULD be, but the RAF spring loaded No7 single shot platform that we have here is much different. Maybe the one shown by Warren was for the limited production/trials No5 by BSA.

BSA really wanted their rifle to be adopted. After all, a similar rifle had already been adopted by the RAF. But the MoS convinced the Army that the Enfield designed .22" rifle was the best and it could be manufactured at the rifle plant at Fazakerley too. BSA could also make them to speed up production and placate them for rejecting their offering. BSA output stripped Fazakerley but after the contract ended, because they simply made them on a MoS contract, they were forbidden to continue production or make them for other customers.

The story goes, as told to me by an Ordnance Major (Major Rees at the huge NDOD) while in NZ, that due to a slight contractural misunderstanding or oversight, BSA bid for the NZ requirement for a new .22" trainer and built the NZ DA contract - hence the DA serial number prefix. Naughty, naughty. It would have just passed unnoticed for many years until the NZ Government went to the MoS for spares several years later - who queried how they had them when there had been no outside sales or disposals...........

I went and looked at my .22 and it has the single shot platforlm magazine. For what it is worth.

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Originally Posted by breakeyp

I went and looked at my .22 and it has the single shot platforlm magazine. For what it is worth.

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Any chance of pictures, in and out of the rifle??

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Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Any chance of pictures, in and out of the rifle??

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Warren's pictures at start of thread look good.

Pictures of both types of mags inserted in the rifles.......Attachment 28167Attachment 28166

I just went looking for my No.8 spare parts and found among them a loading platform and both pins. If pics are of interest, just let me know.

The interest lies in the fact that the feed block and pins were never available as spares or replacements so if you've got them, a rifle has been scrapped oor it's missing them Spike! I recall that they were individually fitted to a rifle and the pin holes weren't all aligned identically which made the block completely non interchangeable

Sadly, Peter... Probably 2 rifles had been scrapped. I bought 2 complete rifles worth of parts many years ago, every part less the wood, barrel and action. Over the years I've given or sold some away and have left just about 1 rifle's worth.

I found this as well...

Attachment 28171

Page 1, chapter 1 of the EMER!